P U T T IN G
ON THE PRACTICE green, it’s hard to simulate the pres- sure you feel standing over a make-or-break putt – hands trembling, heart pounding out of your chest. That’s because no matter what you do in practice to try to manufacture that type of pressure, you can’t make your heart beat as fast as it does in real time – un- til now. One day, I was with one of my former Korn Fer- ry Tour players, and he was running sprints around the practice green. I asked him why he was doing this, and he said it was to increase his heart rate so he could better simulate the feeling he had standing over a big putt. It made perfect sense. Over time, I’ve made a few modifications to this exer- cise, and I’ve found it to be a very effective way to prac- tice under pressure. Here’s how to make it work for you. – WITH DAVE ALLEN JASON BIRNBAUM , one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in New York, teaches at Manhattan Woods in West Nyack. Don't Miss a Beat Boost your heart rate (seriously!) to hole more pressure putts BY JASON BIRNBAUM
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES FARRELL
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 89
JUNE 2026
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